Man stole Greyhound bus to visit friend, cops say

WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- Authorities say a 39-year-old man stole a Greyhound bus in Syracuse and decided to a make a Christmas Day visit to a friend in northern New York before he was caught.

Authorities say Andrew Hickey of Peekskill, Westchester County, boarded the bus Sunday morning because he was cold and the vehicle was running and warm while being fueled at the Syracuse transportation center.

Officials say Hickey drove off and headed north to a friend's home in Watertown, 60 miles away. Police say he has a commercial driver's license and knows how to drive a bus.

Greyhound disabled the runaway bus electronically two hours later in Watertown. The company notified Jefferson County sheriff's deputies, who made the arrest.

Hickey has been charged with stealing the bus. He's in the county jail.